Pine nematode outbreak detected for the first time in France: "a serious danger"

The Landes pine trees are in danger due to a tiny organism. The nematode , a microscopic worm – Bursaphelenchus xylophilus – is dangerous to conifers because it blocks the flow of sap, causing the rapid death of the trees it infests. And for the first time in France, an outbreak has been detected in the Landes region, in Seignosse, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday, November 4th.

The discovery was confirmed by the reference laboratory of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), as part of the official monitoring of quarantine organisms.

After confirmation of the presence of the worm in some French conifers, the ministry warned of the particularly significant impact that its proliferation would have on the territory.

During the day, the prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region will meet with the relevant local stakeholders and will therefore decide on measures to prevent its spread. The Ministry of Agriculture has nevertheless clarified that "while it poses a serious danger to pine trees, this nematode presents no risk to human or animal health."

The worm, native to North America, attacks certain conifers, particularly pines, and is transmitted from tree to tree by beetles, a type of insect. It was first detected in the European Union in Portugal in 1999, followed by Spain in 2008.

This is "a major health threat to the region's coniferous forests," the Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (DRAAF) emphasized in a note last spring. The agency also called for "the utmost vigilance regarding the movement of softwood timber or goods such as stone and granite using wooden pallets for transport, coming from Spain or Portugal."